Youngsters on the brink of playing time for U.Va., Virginia Tech in football

When Virginia and Virginia Tech open preseason football practices Monday, both programs will have fewer than four weeks to get a good feel for which young players are ready to get on the field.

With no experience under their belt, projecting the success of the neophytes is an inexact science at best, but a few true freshmen and redshirt freshmen for both teams have demonstrated more game-readiness or have clearer paths to the field than others.

It doesn't take much insight to know Tech redshirt freshman running back Trey Edmunds and true freshman left tackle Jonathan McLaughlin, who came out of the spring atop the depth chart, have good chances to play significant roles.

The same goes for U.Va. redshirt freshman Greyson Lambert, who may end up as the Cavaliers' No. 2 quarterback behind Hampton High graduate David Watford to start the season, but which would also mean Lambert isn't far from serious playing time.

While those guys are almost givens to find themselves on the field soon, Tech incoming freshman cornerback Kendall Fuller also has that opportunity.

If senior Antone Exum isn't fully recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in time for the Aug. 31 opener against Alabama (and he still looks questionable), Fuller will be given a good look for a starting job at the cornerback spot not manned by his brother, Kyle, a senior who has already started for 21/2 seasons.

Kendall will be the fourth Fuller brother, including Vincent and Corey, to play at Tech. Kendall, a 6-foot-0, 193-pound graduate of Our Lady of Good Counsel High in Olney, Md., was considered by most recruiting analysts to be among the nation's top five cornerback prospects in the class of 2013.

"He's going to have a chance," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "His ability gives a chance to work in here. I think the further you get away from the football, the better opportunity you have to play quickly. He's back away from the football in the secondary."

U.Va. also has its can't-miss incoming freshman in the form of Taquan Mizzell, a 5-10, 185-pound graduate of Bayside High in Virginia Beach who was looked upon by most analysts as one of the nation's top 30 running backs in the class of '13.

With U.Va.'s running back depth chart dwindling after the offseason transfer of Menchville High graduate Clifton Richardson to Liberty, Mizzell figures to get a chance to run the ball along with Kevin Parks and Khalek Shepherd. U.Va. coach Mike London said Mizzell, who still must learn pass protection responsibilities, will definitely factor into the mix right away as a kickoff and punt returner.

"We don't want to take the whole playbook and make him learn it or know it, but we're going to try to do as much as we can," London said.

Here's a look at a few other new faces that could play big roles for U.Va. and Tech.

U.Va.

C Jackson Matteo: Though the redshirt freshman walk-on's ascension to the top of the depth chart by the end of spring practice was surprising, it doesn't appear to be a fluke. London raved about Matteo at the ACC Kickoff event: "He demonstrated through spring practice that there's a level of toughness and ability that an offensive center has to have, and he showed that," London said. "I think that's the kind of thing that moved him forward."

DT Tyrell Chavis: With Chris Brathwaite off the roster and Justin Renfrow no longer on the team, Chavis is the kind of mammoth true freshman who could move into a rotation at defensive tackle. At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Chavis was referred to by Fork Union Military Academy coach John Shuman as one of the best defensive linemen to ever play for the coach.

CB Tim Harris: It remains to be seen how much ground he can make up once preseason practices open, but there's no doubt about his fundamental skills. He was considered by most analysts one of the nation's top 35 cornerback prospects in the '13 class. He could make a run at earning a spot in the two-deep.

OGs Ryan Doull and Sean Karl: If projected starting right guard Sean Cascarano has his senior season cut short due to nagging hip and shoulder injuries (answers regarding his status will come in August), there could possibly be some position juggling on the offensive line, but Doull and Karl would be in positions to move up the depth chart. Both Doull and Karl are redshirt freshmen. Doull came out of spring No. 2 at left guard behind Luke Bowanko, while Karl was No. 3 at right guard behind Cascarano and Conner Davis.

Virginia Tech

WR Charley Meyer: He was an unexpected topic of conversation at the ACC Kickoff, as both Beamer and Tech quarterback Logan Thomas heaped praise on Meyer, a redshirt freshman walk-on. Thomas and Beamer both said they anticipate Meyer playing a lot this season. In any case, if he continues to progress, his involvement will likely increase with backup receiver Kevin Asante no longer on the roster. Beamer likes Meyer's explosiveness: "He'll fool you with his speed."

WR Joshua Stanford: While Meyer qualifies as an unforeseen addition to this list, Stanford is a receiver Tech's coaching staff has been looking forward to finally getting on the field in a game situation. He still has to become more reliable actually catching the ball, but he blocks, runs good routes and plays smart for a redshirt freshman.

CB Brandon Facyson: When Fuller comes into the fold, Facyson may fly under the radar a bit, but he made a favorable impression in spring practice with solid coverage skills and quick understanding of defensive schemes after enrolling in January as a true freshman. After being named the team's top defensive newcomer in the spring, he'll compete for a spot in the two-deep.

LB Deon Clarke: The redshirt freshman's playing time could be entirely predicated on the health of Tariq Edwards, who came out of the spring looking good. Edwards struggled to get back to 100 percent last season after offseason surgery for a stress fracture in his leg, and he falters at all, Clarke will be next in line at Edwards' "backer" position. Clarke led the team with nine tackles during the spring game.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Though coach Mike London had a pretty good idea David Watford was the best candidate for Virginia's open quarterback spot heading into August after spring practices ended, it didn't hurt to have Navy Seals confirm London's suspicions.